Bowling ball drilling fixture



May 23, 1944. E. E, WEDDIS BOWLING BALL DRILLING FIXTURE Filed Dec. 12,1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BQWLING BALL DRILLING FIXTURE Filed Dec. 12, 19412 Sheets-Sheet 2 W, INVENTOR. BY Z, mm'eii 17 6024162556,

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Patented May 23, 1944 BGW'LING BALL DRILLING FIXTURE EmmettlE. Widdis,North Muskegon, Mich, assignor. to The BrunsWick-Balke-CollenderCompany, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December12, 1941, Serial No, 422,717.

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a fixture to facilitate the drilling of thefinger holes in a bowling ball. One object of the invention is toprovide a portable fixture which can be readily applied to a bowlingball for guiding a drill or drills in the formation of the finger holesand determining the 7 location of the holes with relation to each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable fixture havingmeans for guiding a rill or drills in the formation of the finger holesin a bowling ball, said means being adjustable in the fixture in orderto vary the location of the holes with respect to each other to suit therequirements of diiferent users.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a portable fixturehaving frictional clamping means by which it may be secured to a bowlingball and including means for guiding a drill or drills in the formationof finger'holes in the ball, together with a support on which the ballmay be rotatably adjusted to bring each of the holes into verticalalignment with the spindle of a drill press by which the drills areoperated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken? in conjunction with the drawings, in whichfFigure 1 is a side View of a bowling ball showing the finger holes ascustomarily located therein;

Figure '2 is a side elevation of a fixture emfbo-dying this invention,showing the same applied to a bowling ball and positioned in readinessfor the drilling of the thumb hole;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the fixture positioned as shown in Figure 2;i

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken "sub stantially as indicatedat line 4+4 on Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a face view of the finger hole bushings and adjacent parts,taken substantially as indicated at line 55 on Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a transverse detail section taken as indicated at line 6-$on Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a side elevation similar to Figure but showing the ball andthe drilling fixture ro tated to a position for the drilling of thefingers? holes.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, the embodiment shown in the drawings anddescribed hereinafter is by way of preferred illustration.

only, and it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto orthereby, but it is the intention to cover all modifications andalternative constructions falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

- 55 are indicated at I5 and The bowling ball shown at A in Figure 1 isprovided with three holes; the large hole B accommodates the thumb ofthe bowlerrthe hole C is spaced from the thumb hole B to receive themiddle finger, and the hole D receives the ring finger of the bowlershand. To insure that the ball shall be comfortable for a particularperson and that the finger holes shall not interfere with or impair hisdelivery of the ball these holes must be accurately spaced to fit hisown hand; accordingly it is customary to determine the measurements ofthe hand of the person intending to use the ball before the finger holesare drilled. It is also important that the holes be accurately directedin the drilling and that they be substantially radial in the ball.

Figure 2 shows a fixture which includes a base or cradle block I andhaving a spherically formed, upwardly exposed cavity or recess 2 of aproper radius of curvature'to fit a standard bowling ball. Such a ballis indicated at A resting on the cradle block I. A shell i, preferablyformed as a casting, has a substantially hemi-spherical interior surfaceadapted to fit snugly over the ball A, and the lower margin of the shelladjacent a great circle of the ball is formed as a flange 5 which issplit or rifted at 6 and provided with lugs l and 8 engageable byanysuitable tightening or clamping device for securing the shell 4 firmlyand frictionally to the ball during-the drilling operation. In thedrawings the clamping means consists of a bolt 9 threaded at one end toengage screw threads in the lug l and extending with clearance throughan aligned opening in the lug 8. The head of the bolt is in the form ofan eye l6 pivotally engaged with a cross-pin H in the head 12 of theclamping handle 13. This head l2 has curved edges M which are eccentricwith respect to the pivot l l so that swinging the handle i3 through alimited arc operates to press the lug a toward the lug l and thustighten the flange 5 of the shell i about the ballA. Initial adjustmentof the clamp is effected by the threaded engagement of the bolt 9 in thelug I, and thereafter a limited swing of the clamp handle 43 is all thatis necessary to tighten or loosen frictional grip of the shell on theball.

If desired, the internal surface of the flange portion 5 and a fewbearing points on the inner surface of the shell 4 may be lined withcushioning material such as chamois or rubber to avoid marring thesurface of the ball by contact therewith. Such lining and cushioningelements l6, respectively, in Figure 4. To avoid unnecessary weight,some portions of the hemi-spherical shell are cut away or cored out,forming openings l1 and I8, and a special window-opening I9 ispositioned to register with the serial number usually stamped on theball, so that, as a matter of convenience, the finger holes may belocated in standard relation to this number or other identifying data.

The shell 4 is provided with an integral upstanding boss 20, which is ofrectangular form and includes side Walls 2| and end walls 22. Ifhe uppersurface 23 of the boss 20, between the side walls 2|, is of cylindricalcontour concentr c with the axis of the ball A, such axis beingindicated at 24 on Figure 2. A guide block 25 has a curved under-surfaceformed to bear firmly upon the curved surface 23 of the boss, and theblock is dimensioned for slidable adjustment between the upstanding sidewalls 2|. Rotatably secured in the block is a bushing 25 having a heador flange 21 which bears against the upper surface of the block 25 andhaving its lower end threaded to engage a nut 28. The side walls 2| areundercut to form mutually opposed arcuate 1113529, and the nut 28 iscorrespondingly curved to r de under said ribs and to be drawn up intofrictional engagement therewith by the threads of the bushing 26 whenthe head of the bush ng 18 rotated to tighten the nut. The nut 28 1spreferably square or rectangular so that it is held against rotationbetween the side walls 2| of the boss 20. Thus the block 25 may beshdably adjusted in an arcuate path of limited extent.

Within the bushing 26 there is co-axially secured a drill bushing 30which, it may be understood, is inter-changeable with several similarbushings differing only in the size of the bore 3| which is toaccommodate and guide a drill employed in forming the thumb receivinghole, such as the hole B in the ball A in Figure 1. W1th the partsdisposed as shown in Figure 2, the base block I may be supported on thetable of a dr ll press, not shown, so that the axis of the bushing 24 issubstantially vertical and is in alignment with a drill in the spindleof the drill press, the point of such drill being shown at 32 in Figure2. The reason for making the block 25 and the drill bushing 30adjustable, as described, will presently appear. Within the boss 20 thewall of the shell 4 is cut away, forming an elongated opening 33 whichregisters with the bore 3| of the bush ing 3!! at all positions in thisrange of adjustment.

To render the bushings 30 readily inter-changeable, each of them has anotch 34 formed in its head flange 35, so that as the bushing is placedin position the notch 34 will just clear the head 36 of a stud set inthe flange 21 of the bushing 26. Thus by slight rotation of the bushing3|), an inclined surface 31 adjacent the notch 34 will be brought underthe head 36 with suflicient wedging action to secure the bushing 30temporarily in position. Reverse rotation of the bushing will, ofcourse, release it by bringing its notch 34 again into registration withthe head 36 of the stud, allowing withdrawal of the bushing.

Spaced circumferentially from the boss 20 there is provided on the shell4 a second boss 49 which supports bushings for the drills which are toform finger holes such as those shown at C and D in ure 1. An adjustableblock 4| is secured to the boss 4|] and inter-changeable drill bushlugs42 and 43 are inserted in suitable holes in said block 4|. A base flange44 of the block 4| i concentrically curved about the axis of the holewhich carries the bushing 42 and it fits under the retaining plate 45secured on the boss 40. At the opposite end of the block 4| the flange44 is formed with an arcuate slot 48 to accommodate a threaded stud 41projecting from the boss 40. A clamping nut 48 on the stud bears againstthe flange 44 for securing the block 4| at any desired position in therange of swing permitted by the length of the slot 46.

With this arrangement the fixture can be readily adjusted for properlyspacing the holes B, C, and D, in the ball. The distance between thehole B and the hole D will depend upon the adjustment of the block 25,which is movable with respect to the axis of the bushing 42 in the boss40. Then the correct distance between the hole B and the hole C can besecured by swinging the block 4| through its limited range of movementand clamping it by means of the knurled nut 48. To provide fordifferences in the distance between the holes 0 and B, some of theinter-changeable bushings 42 and 43 may have their bores eccentricallylocated in the bushings as indicated by the dotted circle 43 in Figure5. As shown, the head of each of these bushings is formed with a flatside at 49 insuring that the bushings will always be inserted in adefinite and predetermined relation to each other. In addition, ifdesired, each bushing may have a radially projecting guide pin 50engageable in a longitudinally extending slot 5| in the wall of the borein block 4| which receives the bushing.

In practice a sample ball is made up with several sets of drillings,having the holes C and D positioned at different distances from the holeB, and from each other, and this ball is submitted to the prospectivecustomer so that he may determine just which arrangement of holes bestfits the proportions of his own hand. Preferably the sample ball ismarked with dimensions and those dimensions applying to the customerschoice are then noted. The boss 20 is provided with a scale 55 and theblock 25 carries an index 56 which traverses the scale 55 in the arcuateadjustment of the block. The scale marks will correspond to distancesbetween the thumb hole B and the finger hole D, these holes beingdrilled through bushings 30 and 42, respectively, The boss 40 isprovided with a scale 65 and the flange 44 of the block 4| carries anindex mark 66, so that adjustment of the mark 66 over the scale 65 willposition the bushing 43 for locating the hole C at the proper distancefrom the hole B in the ball A. Figure 2 shows the block 4| adjusted at amiddle position in its range. When shifted in one direction, toward theend of the scale marked R, it will provide a series of positionssuitable for a right-handed bowler, and when shifted in the oppositedirection, toward the end of the scale marked L, it will provide thatthe distance between the thumb hole B and the finger hole C shall begreater than the distance between the thumb hole B and finger hole D, asrequired for a left-handed bowler.

Actually it is common practice to state the distances between the holesas the distances between their adjacent edges measured along thespherical surface of the ball, and not as the distances between centersof the holes. Furthermore, the scale 55 is not at the surface of theball, but is located on the boss 24] at a considerably greater radius;and the scale index 66 is on the swinging end of a lever. Thus thesubdivisions of the scales 55 and 65 arenot in actual dimensions of thecritical distances as measured on the ball, but are proportional and canbe denoted by any arbitrary system of numeration properly interpreted byan accompanying chart or instruction book, from which the correctsetting of the block 25 and of the block 41 can be determined for anygiven set of dimensions specified for the location of the holes in theball.

When the thumb hole has been formed by the drill, such as that shown at32, guided in the bushing 30, the drill will be withdrawn and ordinarilya smaller drill will be substituted for making the finger holes. Thenthe ball A will be rotated in the recess 2 of the cradle block I tobring One of the bushings 42 or 43' into substantially verticalalignment with the axis of the drill press spindle, and if necessary theblock I may be shifted slightly on the drill press table to perfect suchalignment. To permit rotation of the ball through this angle, with theshell 4 clamped fixedly on it, the cradle block I is cut away at 3, asshown in Figure 2 and in Figure '7.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bowling ball drilling fixture comprising a shell fitted snugly overthe bowling ball and supported thereby, a drill guide carried by saidshell, a cradle block having an upwardly exposed recess of sphericalcontour with substantially the same radius of curvature as the ball, andmeans adjustable to secure the shell in fixed relation to the ball.

2. A bowling ball drilling fixture comprising a shell fitted over abowling ball and supported thereby, and a drill guide slidably engagedwith said shell and adjustable thereon in an arcuate path concentricwith the ball to which the shell is fitted.

3. A bowling ball drilling fixture comprising a shell formed to fit overthe bowling ball, said shell having a pair of opposed arcuate guidewaysspaced apart, and a guide block disposed between said guideways having abore directed toguideways in an arcuate path concentric with said ball,and means to lock the block against such movement at a desired positionof adjustment.

4. A bowling ball drilling fixture comprising a shell formed to fit overthe bowling ball, said shell having a pair of opposed arcuate guidewaysspaced apart, and a guide block disposed between said guideways having abore directed toward the surface of the ball to which the shell isfitted, said block being adjustable along said guideways in an arcuatepath concentric with said ball, and means to lock the block against suchmovement at a desired position of adjustment; the shell having anelongated opening dimensioned to register with said bore throughout therange of adjustment of the block.

5. A bowling ball drilling fixture comprising a shell formed to fit overa bowling ball, said shell having a pair of opposed arcuate guide ribsspaced apart, a block lodged upon said ribs for sliding 6. A bowlingball drilling fixture comprising a shell formed to fit over a bowlingball, a drill guide having two guide bores spaced apart, and meanspivotally securing said guide to the shell for adjustment about the axisof one of said bores.

7. A bowling ball drilling fixture comprising a shell formed to fit overa bowling ball, a drill guide having a single bore and a drill guidehaving two guide bores spaced apart, said guides being secured to theshell at circumferentially spaced positions, the first guide beingadjustable toward and from the other guide to vary the distance of itsbore from one of the bores of the other guide, and said other guidebeing pivotally secured to the shell for adjustment about the axis ofsaid one bore to vary the distance of its other bore from the bore ofthe first guide.

8. A bowling ball drilling fixture comprising a shell formed to fit overa bowling ball with means to secure the shell in fixed relation to theball, a drill guide on the shell having a single bore and a drill guideon the shell having two guide bores side by side, the second guide beingpivotally mounted for adjustment through a range to position either ofits guide bores nearer than the other to the bore of the first mentioneddrill guide.

9. In a bowling ball drilling fixture as defined in claim 8, the axis ofpivotal adjustment of said second guide being coincident with the axisof one of its two guide bores.

10. In a bowling ball drilling fixture as defined in claim 5, a drillguide bushing coaxially and removably carried in said flanged bushing.

11. A bowling ball drilling fixture comprising a shell formed to fitover a bowling ball, with a drill guide having two bores side by sidedirected toward the surface of the ball, and a plurality ofinterchangeable bushings for said bores, the bushings for one borehaving guide bores coaxial .with said one bore and certain of thebushings for the other bore having their guide bores eccentricallydisposed with relation to said other bore.

12. In the bowling ball drilling fixture defined in claim 11, said otherbore and its bushings having inter-engaging, non-circular featuresrequir- W ing each bushing to be inserted in the bore with ball, saidfixture including a drill guide having adjustment along them in anarcuate path concentric with said ball, a curved nut slidably ena singlebore and a drill guide having two guide bores spaced apart, said guidesbeing circumferentially spaced from each other and relatively adjustableon the shell, and a cradle block having an upwardly exposed recess ofspherical contour with substantially the same radius of curvature as theball, said ball being rotatably adjustable on said cradle block to alignany of said bores with a drill of a drilling machine.

14. A bowling ball drilling fixture comprising a shell with means toclamp it to a bowling ball, said fixture including a plurality of drillguides carried by the shell in predetermined relation to each other, anda cradle block having an upwardly exposed recess of spherical contourwith substantially the same radius of curvature as the ball, said ballbeing rotatively adjustable on said cradle block to align a selecteddrill guide with the drill of a drilling machine.

EMMIETT E. WIDDIS.

